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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. J. PAULKNER. COTTON SEED DELINTER.

No. 560,263. Patented May 19; 1896.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. J. PAULKNER. COTTON SEED DELINTER.

Patented May 19, 1896.

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J. J. PAULKNER.

COTTON SEED DELINTER.

No. 560,263. Patented May 19, 1896.

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- mda UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. FAULKNER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD COTTON SEED COMPANY.

COTTON-SEED DELINTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,263, dated May 19, 1896.

Application filed .T 1y 29, 1895. Serial No. 557,487. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. FAULKNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton -Seed Delinters; and I do hereby declare the followin g to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

M'y invention relates to improvements in machines for treating cotton-seed, and particularly to improvements in that class thereof known as delinters, and it consists in the improved cotton-seed delinter Whose construction and arrangement of parts will be hereinafter described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The efficiency of a cotton-seed delinter depends not only upon the nature of the abradin g-surfaces which are used to scour the lint off the seed under treatment, but also upon the character and capabilities of the means used to remove the lint from the abrading-surfaces as rapidly as it has been scoured off the surface of the seed. The importance of the immediate removal of the lint from the machine cannot be overestimated, and in all successful constructions this feature must receive careful attention. Other things being equal, the efficiency of a cotton-seed delinter will depend upon the amount of lint-removing surface, for the greater the lint-removing surface the quicker will be the removal of the lint separated from the seed by the action of the machine, and consequently the more intimate the treatment of the seed in the machine. Heretofore in that class of delinters in which a delintingcylinder is used and a cylindrical casing provided therefor the lint has either been removed through a longitudinal aperture in the casing or the casing has been perforated and the lint removed by the suction of an air-current caused to sweep over the surface of the same. The method of removing the lint through a longitudinal aperture in the casing is a good one and has resulted in the construction of the most successful machines hitherto used. The method of removing the lint throught a perforated casing has not proven very successful because this method overlooks and neglects the principle that the lint which is separated from the seed by the action of the machine naturally tends to form the inner surface of the roll which the seed assumes while under treatment in the machine, and thus is not readily subject tothe influence of an air-current sweeping over the outer surface of the delinting-cylinder casing.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine in which the extent of the lint-removing surface shall be coextensive with that of the casing itself and in which positivelyacting means shall be used over the entire surface of the casing to remove the lint as rapidly as it is separated from the seed by the action of the machine. The uniformity and rapidity of lint removal thus to be secured will result in a uniform product and will greatly increase the efficiency and capacity of the machine.

In accomplishing the object of my invention I form the casing for the delinting-cylinder of a series of positively-actuated rotating rolls, and to prevent the escape of seed between adjacent rolls preferably journal the rolls forming the casing with their surfaces in sufficiently close proximity to prevent the escape of seed therethrough. These rolls are further so actuated that they all move in the same direction, so that the lint, which is scoured off the surface of the seed by the abrading action taking place between the abrading-surfaces of the delinting-cylinder and the inner surface of the rolls forming the casing, is withdrawn from the inclosure in which the abrading action is taking place asthe rolls complete their revolution by catching on the abrading-surface of the rolls and passing out between adjacent rolls. The lint is removed from the outer surface of the rolls by an air-current which is caused to sweep over the same. In order to render certain the instantaneous removal of lint as soon as it is scoured off the surface of the seed, I further perforate the surface of the delintingcylinder and cause jets of air to issue from the surface of the same, which act to carry the lint to the surface of the rolls constituting the casing. The greater number of these rolls are formed of abrading material, as the positively-movin g abrading-surface thus constituted has been found Very efficient in effecting the removal of the lint; but in order to still further render certain the complete removal of the lint from the machine I use at one or more points around the casin g, instead of a roll formed of abrading material, a roll formed with a perforate periphery, so that at these points complete communication is established between the air-current which escapes through the perforations of the delint ing-cylinder and the outer air-current which is caused to sweep over the outer surface of the rolls constituting the casing. The lintremoving action at the points where the rolls with perforate peripheries are stationed is especiall y efficient, and, as these rolls are placed at regular intervals over the surface of the casing, complete and instantaneous lint-removal is secured. By means of brushes,which are secured to the framework or casing for the rolls which constitute the delinting-cylinder casing, and which bear against the outer surface of said rolls, the surface of the rolls is kept constantly free from lint, and the adhering of the lint to said rolls and the carrying of the same back into the inclosure in which the abrading action is taking place are thus effectually prevented. The abradingsurfaces are kept clean and free from lint, and thus are at all times able to render eflicient service. The lint is swept away into the air-flu me by the current of air which passes over the outer surface of the casing-forming rolls.

In order to understand the operation of the machine, it will be necessary to note that, since the rolls forming the casing of the central delinting-cylinder are caused to rotate in the same direction, contiguous faces thereof move in opposite directions, so that the pertions of the casing-forming rolls which take part in the delinting operation all move in a direction opposite to that of the delintingcylinder. The delinting operation is thereby rendered much more efiicient than would otherwise be the case, and the removal of the lint takes place to better advantage.

My invention is fully represented in the drawings which accompany and form a part of this application, in which the same reference'letters refer to the same or corresponding parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is an end View of the machine delinting-cylin der is further formed with perforations b to permit the escape ofthe outward air-current generated by the action of the fan N, which is journaled within the delinting-cylinder.

The casing for the delinting-cylinder is composed of a series of rolls D, which, in the construction shown, are placed with their surfaces in sufficiently close proximity to prevent the escape of seed therethrough, and are preferably so actuated that they will all move in the same direction. These rolls may be caused to rotate by any suitable connection with a power element; but for simplicity of construction I preferably rotate them by a belt connected with the central shaft upon which the delinting-cylinder is mounted, as shown in Fig. When this construction is used, the roll D at the very top of the machine cannot be actuated successfully except by a separate connection to the power element. I use, therefore, a separate belt for actuating this roll.

The greater part of the rolls forming the delinting-cylinder casing are formed of abrading material, so that they present active abrading-faces to the surface of the seed under treatment. At intervals over the surface of the casing I use, however, instead of rolls formed of abrading material, cylinders K, having perforated peripheries, so that at these points complete communication is established between the jets of air which escape from the perforations formed in the surface of the delinting-cylinder and an outer air-current which I cause to sweep over the outer surface of the rolls forming the delinting-cylinder casing, within the space between the casing G and the surface of said rolls. This aircurrent will be sufficient to remove from the surface of the rolls the greater portion of the lint which is carried out by the same; but to render certain the removal from said rolls of all of the particles of lint adhering thereto I secure to the inner surface of the frame G brushes M, which bear against the outer surface of the rolls forming the delinting-cylinder casing and keep the same at all times clean and in condition for active service.

To prevent the tendency of the seed under treatment to clog in the angled inclosures formed by the meeting surfaces of the casingforming rolls, I support in such inclosures plates L, which are of sufficient size to entirely occupy the inclosure and fit sufficiently close to the surfaces of the rotating rolls to prevent the passage of seed between the same. The plates L are further formed with an abrading surface Z, so that they present active abrading-faces to the seed under treatment. The plates are further made of sufficient size to render the inner contour of the delintingcylinder casing approximately even. The formation of the customary roll of seed is thus in no wise impeded or hampered.

Seed is fed into the machine through the feed-spout E, one of the abrading-rolls D being made shorter at this point, so that the entry of the seed can take place overits bare spindle (:1 the construction being analogous to that shown in Patent No. 546,276, granted to me on September 10, 1895. The discharge of the seed takes place through the dischargespout F, here, as before, one of the rolls being shortened, and the discharge taking place over its bare spindle. The discharge is regulated by the valve f, so that only perfectly clean seed is allowed to pass out of the machine.

The stand-pipe O is stationed at the mouth of the discharge-spout over the discharge opening and serves as an outlet for the seed in the abrading-inclosure, into which such seed may rise and escape from the abrading action when such action becomes too intense.

The removal of the lint from the seed takes place on account of the abradin g action which the surface of the seed receives during its progress through the machine between the abrading-blocks formed on the delinting-cylinder and the inner surface of the delintingcylinder casing. The feeding or conveying of the seed through the machine is due to the spiral arrangement ofthe abrading-surfaces upon the delintingcylinder. The lint, as rapidly as it is scoured oif the sides of the seed, is drawn outward into the casing G, which surrounds the series of casing-forming rolls, as the rolls complete their revolution, and is then carried into the air-flume II by the air-current which is caused to sweep over the outer surface of the abrading-rolls. The brushes M assist and render certain the cleaning of the surfaces of the rolls, so that the action of the rolls is at all times positive and certain. The removal of the lint, while it takes place over the entire surface of the delinting-cylinder casing, is especially active at the points where the cylinders or rolls formed with perforate peripheries are stationed, as at these points the air-currents have the freest access to the abrading-surfaces.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Seed is fed into the machine through the feedspoutE and at once assumes the form of a roll between the abrading-surfaces, which, by the method of actuation herein described, are caused to rotate with adjacent faces moving in opposite directions. The seed, as it is conveyed to the discharge end of the machine by reason of the spiral arrangement of the abrading-blocks on the delinting-cylinder, is constantly subjected to the scouring action of the abrading-surfaces, and the lint thereupon is rapidly removed, being carried out by the rolls forming the casing as they complete their revolution, and carried up into the air-flume H by the air-current which sweeps over the outer surface of the abrading-rolls. The removal of the lint is especially active at the points where the rolls or cylinders having perforate peripheries are stationed, as at these points the air-currents which sweep outward from the perforate surface of the delintingcylinder and over the outer surface of the series of rolls forming the delinting-cylinder casing have freest access to the inclosure in which the abrading operation is taking place. The seed, as it finally reaches the dischargespout F and is discharged from the machine in quantities regulated by the position of the valve f, is thoroughly cleaned and the lint removed from all faces thereof.

The efficiency of my machine is very great because the lint removal is practically instantaneous. The abrading-surfaces are at all times acting to scour the surfaces of the seed under treatment, and are not dulled by being covered with particles of lint.

I do not herein claim the use on an abrading-surface of abrading projections formed with sloping backs, nor the form of projection shown, nor the formation of an abrading-surface by a series of blocks having abrading projections formed thereon, nor the use of a stand-pipe to control the condition of the seed under treatment, nor the use of a moving lint-removing device formed to permit free access of air to the abrading-surfaces therethrough stationed in an air-fiume, nor the use of cylinders having perforate peripheries stationed intermediate between the abrading-surface and the open mouth of an air-flume, as these matters are claimed in other applications filed by me, respectively, April 22, 1895, Serial No. 546,667; May 4, 1895, Serial No. 548,146; May 20, 1895, Serial No. 549,980, and June 3, 1895, Serial No. 551,557.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting-cylinder having abradin g-surfaces, of a casing therefor composed of a series of positively-actuated rolls, placed with their surfaces in sufficiently close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, .seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls arranged to form an inclosure, and placed with their surfaces in sufficiently close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, some of said rolls being perforated, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for causing an air-current to sweep over the outer surface of the rolls, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls arranged to form an inclosure, and placed with their surfaces in sufficiently close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, some of said rolls being perforated, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and dis- IIO charge openings, and means for causing outward air-currents to issue between adjacent rolls, substantially as described.

4. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls arranged to form an inclosure, and placed with their surfaces in sufficiently close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, some of said rolls being perforated, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for causing an air-current to sweep over the outer surface of said rolls, and means for causing outward air-currents to issue between adjacent rolls, substantially as described.

5. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting-cylinder having a perforate periphery, a casing therefor composed of aseries of positively-actuated rolls, placed with their surfaces in sulficiently close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for eausin g an aircurrent to sweep over the outer surface of the rolls, and means for causing air-currents to issue outwardly from the perforations in the delintingcylinder, substantially as described.

0. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting-cylindcr having a perforated periphery, a casing therefor composed of a series of positively-actuated rolls, placed with their surfaces in sufficientl y close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, some of said rolls being perforated,

and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for causing an aircurrent to sweep over the outer surface of said rolls, and means forcausing air-currents to issue outwardly from the perforations in the delinting-cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting-cylinder having a perforate periphery, a casing thereforcomposed of a series of positively-actuated rolls placed with their surfaces in suflieiently close proximity to prevent passage of seed between the same, some of said rolls being perforated, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, a fan stationed within the delinting-cylinder, a framework having openings therein surrounding the delinting-eylinder casin g, brushes secured to said framework and bearing against the periphery of the rolls constituting said casing, and means for causing an. air-current to sweep over the outer surface of said rolls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'l'iix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES J. FAULKNER. \Vi tnesses:

L. M. MARBLE, \V. J. SMITH. 

